Aerosol dispenser

Abstract

A dispenser includes a housing 52 having curvilinear sides 54, a top end 56, and a bottom end 58. At least one face of the curvilinear sides 54 is shaped to appear like a natural occurring object and includes a portion between the top end 56 and the bottom end 58 that extends radially from a longitudinal axis 66 of the housing 52 to a greater extent than portions at the top end 56 and the bottom end 58. A bore 60 extends through the housing 52, which is adapted to receive a container 100. The container 100 is adapted to dispense fluid through a first aperture 62 of the bore 60 in the top end 56 of the housing 52. Fluid is dispensed from the container 100 through the first aperture 62 upon telescopically moving the housing 52 by exerting a force against the at least one face of the curvilinear sides 54 shaped to appear like a natural occurring object in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 66 of the housing 52.

1 . A dispenser, comprising:
 a housing ( 52 ) having curvilinear sides ( 54 ), a top end ( 56 ), and a bottom end ( 58 ), wherein at least one face of the curvilinear sides ( 54 ) is shaped to appear like a natural occurring object and includes a portion between the top end ( 56 ) and the bottom end ( 58 ) that extends radially from a longitudinal axis ( 66 ) of the housing ( 52 ) to a greater extent than portions at the top end ( 56 ) and the bottom end ( 58 );   a bore ( 60 ) extending through the housing ( 52 ), which is adapted to receive a container ( 100 ), wherein the container ( 100 ) is adapted to dispense fluid through a first aperture ( 62 ) of the bore ( 60 ) in the top end ( 56 ) of the housing ( 52 ); and   characterized in that fluid is dispensed from the container ( 100 ) through the first aperture ( 62 ) upon telescopically moving the housing ( 52 ) by exerting a force against the at least one face of the curvilinear sides ( 54 ) shaped to appear like a natural occurring object in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis ( 66 ) of the housing ( 52 ).   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the container ( 100 ) is placed within the bore ( 60 ) through a second aperture ( 64 ) at the bottom end ( 58 ) thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one face of the curvilinear sides ( 54 ) is adapted to fit the contour of a user's palm and provides an ergonomic gripping surface. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the curvilinear sides comprise a first face ( 400 ), a second face ( 402 ), a third face ( 404 ), and a fourth face ( 406 ). 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein a medial portion ( 410 ) of the faces ( 400 ,  402 ,  404 ,  406 ) extends radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis ( 66 ) of the housing ( 52 ) to a greater extent than portions of the faces ( 400 ,  402 ,  404 ,  406 ) adjacent the top end ( 56 ) and the bottom end ( 58 ). 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the faces ( 400 ,  402 ,  404 ,  406 ) extend radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis ( 66 ) of the housing ( 52 ) the entire length of the housing ( 52 ) between the top end ( 56 ) and the bottom end ( 58 ). 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the natural occurring object is one of a pebble, a stone, or a shell. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the container ( 100 ) is an aerosol container or a pump spray. 
     
     
         9 . A dispenser, comprising:
 a housing ( 52 ) having a bore ( 60 ) extending therethrough, the bore ( 60 ) having first and second apertures ( 62 ), ( 64 );   an actuator socket ( 204 ,  300 ) disposed within the first aperture ( 62 ), including a passage ( 206 ,  304 ) extending therethrough that is in fluid communication with the first aperture ( 62 );   a shroud ( 200 ,  250 ) disposed within the bore ( 60 ), the shroud including a channel within an interior thereof;   an adapter ( 350 ) that engages the shroud ( 200 ,  250 ) and is disposed within the second aperture ( 64 );   an aerosol container ( 100 ) disposed within the channel of the shroud ( 200 ,  250 ), the shroud ( 200 ,  250 ) having shoulders ( 218 ) to hold the aerosol container ( 100 ) at an axially fixed position with respect to the shroud ( 200 ,  250 ), wherein a valve stem ( 114 ) of the aerosol container ( 100 ) is urged by the actuator socket ( 204 ,  300 ) such that displacement of the housing ( 52 ) toward the shroud ( 200 ,  250 ) axially compresses the valve stem ( 114 ) to cause the aerosol container ( 100 ) to emit fluid through the passage ( 206 ,  304 ) and the first aperture ( 62 ); and   characterized in that the shroud ( 200 ,  250 ) slidably engages the housing ( 52 ) to allow a limited telescopic movement therebetween, wherein the adapter ( 350 ) releasably engages a lower portion of the shroud ( 200 ,  250 ) to enable the shroud ( 200 ,  250 ) and the aerosol container ( 100 ) to be removed axially as a unit.   
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the shroud ( 200 ) includes a body portion ( 202 ) and flexible members ( 208 ) extending between the body portion ( 202 ) and the actuator socket ( 204 ). 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the shroud ( 200 ) is provided with an aerosol container ( 100 ) therein such that the valve stem ( 114 ) of the aerosol container ( 100 ) is disposed within an inlet ( 220 ) of the actuator socket ( 204 ) and the actuator socket ( 204 ) is in fluid communication with the first aperture ( 62 ). 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the shroud ( 250 ) includes a body portion ( 202 ) and the actuator socket ( 300 ) is separate therefrom and integral with portions of the housing ( 52 ) adjacent the first aperture ( 62 ). 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the shroud ( 250 ) is provided with an aerosol container ( 100 ) therein such that the valve stem ( 114 ) of the aerosol container ( 100 ) is disposed within an inlet ( 302 ) of the actuator socket ( 300 ) and the actuator socket ( 300 ) is in fluid communication with the first aperture ( 62 ). 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the passage ( 304 ) of the actuator socket ( 300 ) comprises a frusto-conical inlet portion ( 302 ) adapted to receive any of a plurality of valve stems of an aerosol container having a uniformly cylindrical cross-section or a non-uniform cylindrical cross-section. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein interior portions of the adapter ( 350 ) include at least one support member ( 358 ) configured to engage at least one protrusion ( 216 ) of a shoulder ( 210 ) extending from an exterior of the shroud ( 200 ,  250 ). 
     
     
         16 . A dispenser, comprising:
 a housing ( 52 ) having sides ( 54 ), a top end ( 56 ), and a bottom end ( 58 ), wherein a portion between the top end ( 56 ) and the bottom end ( 58 ) extends outwardly from an axis ( 66 ) of the housing ( 52 ) to a greater extent than portions at the top end ( 56 );   a bore ( 60 ) extending through the housing ( 52 ), which is adapted to receive a container ( 100 ), wherein the container ( 100 ) is adapted to dispense a volatile material through a first aperture ( 62 ) of the housing ( 52 ); and   characterized in that fluid is dispensed from the container ( 100 ) through the first aperture ( 62 ) upon moving the housing ( 52 ) by exerting a force against at least one face of the sides ( 54 ) in a direction substantially parallel to the axis ( 66 ) of the housing ( 52 ), wherein one face of the sides is shaped to appear like at least one of a pebble, a stone, a fossilized article, and a wood article.   
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the container ( 100 ) is placed within the bore ( 60 ) through a second aperture ( 64 ) at the bottom end ( 58 ) thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the container ( 100 ) is an aerosol container. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the sides ( 54 ) of the housing ( 52 ) are curvilinear. 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one face of the curvilinear sides ( 54 ) is adapted to fit the contour of a user's palm and provides an ergonomic gripping surface. 
     
     
         21 . The dispenser of  claim 20 , wherein the curvilinear sides comprise a first face ( 400 ), a second face ( 402 ), a third face ( 404 ), and a fourth face ( 406 ). 
     
     
         22 . The dispenser of  claim 21 , wherein a medial portion ( 410 ) of the faces ( 400 ,  402 ,  404 ,  406 ) extends radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis ( 66 ) of the housing ( 52 ) to a greater extent than portions of the faces ( 400 ,  402 ,  404 ,  406 ) adjacent the top end ( 56 ) and the bottom end ( 58 ). 
     
     
         23 . The dispenser of  claim 22 , wherein the faces ( 400 ,  402 ,  404 ,  406 ) extend radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis ( 66 ) of the housing ( 52 ) the entire length of the housing ( 52 ) between the top end ( 56 ) and the bottom end ( 58 ). 
     
     
         24 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein fluid is dispensed upon telescopically moving the housing ( 52 ) in relation to a shroud ( 200 ,  250 ). 
     
     
         25 . The dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein the fluid is dispensed upon exerting a force against at least the one face of the sides ( 54 ) that is shaped to appear like at least one of a pebble, a stone, a fossilized article, and a wood article.